Aren’t you fascinated by the human mind? With its 100 billion neurons and trillions of connections, our brain is constantly trying to make sense of the world around us. But when it comes to learning, it’s not just about content or colourful delivery — it’s also about context.
In this episode, we explore Pen Principle 5: Leveraging Context, and uncover how the environment — both physical and psychological — impacts learning and memory. From temperature, lighting and noise to relationships, stress, and even the instructor’s tone, every detail can influence how well knowledge sticks.
Discover how context-dependent and context-independent learning affect performance, why learners often recall better in familiar environments, and what trainers can do to help students thrive in any setting.
Join us for a deep dive into neuroscience, motivation, and practical design tips for creating powerful, context-rich learning experiences.
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Aren’t you fascinated by the human mind? With its 100 billion neurons and trillions of connections, our brain is constantly trying to make sense of the world around us. But when it comes to learning, it’s not just about content or colourful delivery — it’s also about context.
In this episode, we explore Pen Principle 5: Leveraging Context, and uncover how the environment — both physical and psychological — impacts learning and memory. From temperature, lighting and noise to relationships, stress, and even the instructor’s tone, every detail can influence how well knowledge sticks.
Discover how context-dependent and context-independent learning affect performance, why learners often recall better in familiar environments, and what trainers can do to help students thrive in any setting.
Join us for a deep dive into neuroscience, motivation, and practical design tips for creating powerful, context-rich learning experiences.
Think you’re just a boss? Nah, you could be a mentor—and it might just change your team, your career, and even your bottom line. Let’s unpack why, with some important stats, real stories, and takeaways you can use tomorrow. Let’s take a look.
First off, mentoring isn’t just warm fuzzies—it’s can be a game-changer for all those involved. Research says mentees get promoted five times more often than those without mentors, and retention jumps by 22%. That’s from McCarthy Mentoring’s 2017 study, and it’s not just relevant, but growing in importance in in 2025. Imagine keeping your best people longer and seeing them climb the ladder—all because you took time to guide them. That’s power! Here in Australia, COX Architecture saw this firsthand. After growing fast, their Sydney team—500 strong—used mentoring to tighten bonds and set sharper goals. Staff started to redefine and focus on their career paths, and the resulting morale? Unbeatable. Check it out on Parlour’s site if you’re curious. I’ll include the links on the blog I’ve connected to this podcast.
Now, let’s talk diversity. Mentoring lifts everyone. Cornell University found it boosts minority leadership roles by up to 24%. In Aussie terms, look at the Australian Business and Community Network—ABCN. They went digital with Accenture in 2020, mentoring disadvantaged kids, including Indigenous communities. Result? 42% felt more confident about their future. That’s not just feel-good—it’s building a pipeline of diverse talent. As a manager, you could do that too!
Okay, here’s a stat to chew on: 71% of Fortune 500 companies run mentoring programs. It’s not a trend—it’s a standard. Down under, AusIMM’s 2024 program hooked up over 100 mining pros. Mentors reported a 20% jump in job satisfaction—proof you don’t just help others, you grow too. And get this: Cox Automotive saved over $3 million in turnover costs since 2017 with mentoring. That’s cash you could keep in your budget!
So, real-world wins? Plenty. Avison Young pushed women into leadership with mentoring—diversity ticked up fast. Vertex Pharmaceuticals went global, mixing reverse mentoring with peer circles—genius for multigenerational teams. And Paychex? Their high-potential women hit 94% retention. These aren’t flukes; they’re proof mentoring works. Locally, ABCN’s online shift delivered 179 sessions in a year—regional kids got a leg up. That’s mentoring breaking barriers, right here in Oz.
Takeaways time! One: mentoring keeps talent and cuts costs—think millions, not pennies. Two: it’s your diversity secret weapon—lift up underrepresented voices. Three: you’ll grow as a leader—satisfaction and skills, sorted. How do you start? Assess your team’s needs, pair people smartly, and track the wins—engagement, retention, you name it.
VEPodcast
Aren’t you fascinated by the human mind? With its 100 billion neurons and trillions of connections, our brain is constantly trying to make sense of the world around us. But when it comes to learning, it’s not just about content or colourful delivery — it’s also about context.
In this episode, we explore Pen Principle 5: Leveraging Context, and uncover how the environment — both physical and psychological — impacts learning and memory. From temperature, lighting and noise to relationships, stress, and even the instructor’s tone, every detail can influence how well knowledge sticks.
Discover how context-dependent and context-independent learning affect performance, why learners often recall better in familiar environments, and what trainers can do to help students thrive in any setting.
Join us for a deep dive into neuroscience, motivation, and practical design tips for creating powerful, context-rich learning experiences.
